Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1887-09-10
JESS.
BY H.RIDER HAGGARD,
Euthorot 'Nns SolonsoEsndres sshSEte.


which they were fixed, it glared upon the
head Of one of the poor horses, tossed up by
the driving current, as though it were trying
to rise from its watery death, and revealed
the form of the dead Zulu, Mouti, lying on
his face, one arm hanging over the edge of
the cart and dabbling in the water that ran
level with it, in CHASTITY similarity to some
idle passenger in pleasure boat who lets his
fingers slip softly through the stream.
In a second it was gone, ard thay were
once more in darkness. But then byfdegrees
the storm passed off and the moon began to
shine, feebly indeed, for the sky was not
clear washed of clouds, which still trailed
along in the tracks of the tempest, sucked
after it by its mighty draught Still it was
lighter, and the rain gradually thinned till at
last it stopped The storm had passed in
majesty down the ways of the night, and
there was no sound round them but the sound
of rushing water
"John," said jess, presently, "can we do
anythingg'
Nothing, dearp
"Shall we escape, Johnp
He hesitated. at is in Gods hands, dear.
We are in great danger If the cart upsets
we shall be drowned. Can you swim"
"No, John"
of we can hang on here till daylight we
may get ashore if those devils are not there
to shoot us. | do not think that our chance
is good one"
John are you afraid to die?'
He hesitated. Il don't know, dear l
hope to meet it like man"
"Tell me what you truly think. Is there
any hope for US at all!'
Once more he paused, rejecting whether On
not be should speak the truth. Finally he de-
cided to do So
IL can see none, Jess If we are not
drowned we are sure to be shot They viii
wait about the bank till morning, and for
their own sakes they will not dare to let us
live"
He did not know that all that was left of
two Of them would indeed wait for many a
long year, and that the third had fled
aghast
jess, dear" he went on, "it is no good to
tell lies. Our lives may end any minute.
Humanity speaking, they must end before the
sun is up"
The words were awful enough-if the
reader can by an effort of the imagination
throw himself for a moment into the position
of these two, he will, perhaps, understand
how awful. 1t is a dreadful thing, when in
the full flow of health and youth, to be sud
denly placed face to face with the certainty
of violent death and to know that in few
more minutes your course will have been
run, and that you will have commenced to
explore the future, which may prove to be
even worse, because more enduring, than the
life you are now quitting i'll agony. 1t is a
dreadful thing, as any who have ever stood
in such peril can testify, and John felt his
heart sink within him at the thought--for
death is very strong. But there is one thing
stronger-a woman's perfect love. Against
this death cannot prevail. And so it came to
pass that now, as he fixed his cold-gaze upon
Jess eyes, they answered him with a strange,
unearthly light She feared not death so
that she might meet with her beloved.
Death was her hope and opportunity Here
she had none; there she might have all-or
sleep The fetters had fallen from her,
struck off by an overmastering hand. Her
duty was satisfied, her trust was fulfilled and
she was free-free to died with her beloved
All! her love was, indeed love deeper than
the grave; and now it rose in all its strength,
standing tiptoe upon the earth, ready, when
dissolution had lent its wings, to soar to loves
own star.
"You are sure John?" she asked again.
Eyes, dear. yes. Why do you force Inc to
repeat it9 l can see no hope"
Her arms were round his neck, her soft
curls rested on his cheek, and the breath from
her lips played upon his face. Indeed, it was
only by speaking into each others ears that
conversation was feasible, owing to the rush
ing sound of the waters.
because have something to tell you which
] cannot tell Unless we are going to die. You
know it. but | want to say it with my own
lips before l die. i love you, John; l love